Woodruff announces three finalists for police chief

Saturday

Jan 11, 2014 at 10:37 PM

Woodruff announced three finalists for the vacant police chief position Friday afternoon.

By FELICIA KITZMILLERfelicia.kitzmiller@shj.com

Woodruff announced three finalists for the vacant police chief position Friday afternoon.The finalists are James Allen Bledsoe — an officer in the Spartanburg Police Department, Ronald Hugh O'Neill — a retired deputy with Lexington County Sheriff's Office, and Robert Wesley Young Jr. — an officer at Columbia College in Columbia.City Manager Stephanie Tillerson said about 20 people applied for the position, and she was very happy with the quality of the applicant pool."I was pleased with the level of expertise we received in our candidates given the size of our community," she said.Tillerson said she narrowed down the applications to seven individuals, which she submitted to a four-person selection committee. There were two law enforcement representatives, a community member and a government official on the committee, Tillerson said. The committee interviewed each of the seven prospects, with Tillerson observing, and settled on the three finalists.Bledsoe is currently a lieutenant with the Spartanburg Police Department, where he has served since 1998. He has 15 years of law enforcement experience. O'Neill retired from the Lexington County Sheriff's Office in July after serving the department for 31 years. He has 36 years of law enforcement experience. He recently married Spartanburg County Administrator Katherine O'Neill. Tillerson said she did not know about the connection when she sent O'Neill's application to the selection committee.Young resigned as a lieutenant from Columbia College Police Department in April. He had been with the department since December 2011. He has 29 years of law enforcement experience. Next, all three finalists will take a psychological evaluation. Tillerson said she will use those results, along with the findings of a background check and notes from the interview process, to make a final decision."I'm looking for someone who would bring a level of stability to the department," Tillerson said.Integrity, administrative ability and a strong, demonstrated commitment to continuing education and community policing will be priorities in choosing the next chief, she said."We're a small community, so we're looking for someone who cannot only communicate within the police department, but also with the community," she said.Tillerson said she hopes to make a decision by the end of the month with the goal of having the new chief start the second or third week of February.The police chief position became vacant when former chief Darrell Dawkins was demoted following an investigation into police department "policies and procedures."Dawkins was demoted to sergeant, and Lt. Michael Gabriel of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office served as chief for 60 days. During his tenure, Gabriel made a variety of administrative changes, including a new work and continuing education schedule for officers, and suggested a variety of department upgrades.Lt. Todd Hendrix of the Woodruff Police Department is currently the acting police chief.